DAY 1, SUNDAY AUSTRALIA~SINGAPORE~SIEM REAP
Fly with Singapore Airlines to Siem Reap via Singapore. Departures may require overnight accommodation in Singapore, due to flight schedules requiring departure from Australia on the Saturday. On arrival in Siem Reap, you will be assisted through immigration and customs before being transferred by an air-conditioned vehicle withan English-speaking guide, to the Raffles Grand d'Angkor. This afternoon, enjoy a tour to Angkor Wat – the world’s largest temple, with a volume of stone equalling that of the Cheops pyramid in Egypt. Inspired by 12th century Hinduism and conceived by Suryavarman II, Angkor Wat took an estimated 30 years to build and is believed to have been a funeral temple for the king. Enjoy a sunset over Angkor Wat before heading back to your hotel.
DAY 2, MONDAY (B, L) SIEM REAP
After breakfast, you will visit the magnificent Angkor Thom; last capital of the Khmers, with its Elephant Terrace, Terrace of the Leper King and the spectacular Bayon Temple. A 12th century masterpiece, Bayon Temple is an archaeological wonder of symmetry and grandeur at the centre of Angkor Thom, and is surrounded by two long walls of extraordinary bas-relief scenes and over 200 “faces”—silent with their famous half-smiles. You will enjoy lunch at the Café Indochine Restaurant, before visitingThommanon, Chau Say, Tevoda, TaKeo and Ta Prohm, the temple that has been left largely in its natural state. Surrounded by jungle, its labyrinth of stone hallways are overgrown with the roots and limbs of massive banyan trees.
DAY 3, TUESDAY (B, L, D) Siem Reap to Kampong Cham (Mekong River) After breakfast and registration at the Raffles Grand Hotel D’Angkor, you will be transferred by coach to Kampong Cham on the Mekong River, with a stop at Kampong Thom. Embark late afternoon. The ship is docked at walking distance to the city centre.
DAY 4, WEDNESDAY (B, L, D) Kampong Cham area Morning journey upriver to the hilltop pre-Angkorian temple of Wat Hanchey. Dating from the 8th century, these ancient brick structures characterize the architecture of the Chenla Empire which predated the glories of Angkor. Sail back downstream over lunch for an exploration of the Kampong Cham Area. Travel by bus to the 12th century Angkorian temple of Wat Nokor, then continue to the eco village of Cheungkok supported by the French-Cambodian NGO AMICA and the Kampong Cham orphanage, supported by the Pandaw ProBono programme. We make a late afternoon departure from Kampong Cham heading for Phnom Penh. Overnight mid-stream.
DAY 5, THURSDAY (B, L, D) Tonle River to Kampong Chhnang We glance by the capital Phnom Penh in the early morning to change pilots and sail the Tonle River which connects Tonle Lake with the Mekong and Bassac Rivers that merge at Phnom Penh.
1. Low water, approximately November to July
The river journey to Kampong Chhnang is one of the highlight of the trip. Temples abound along the river banks at Kampong Chhnang, and we see the rich tapestry of Cambodian rural life. This is a busy rural port town with bustling markets. Mooring mid-stream, we make a truly wonderful motor boat excursion into the lakeside wetlands that form the mouth of the river. Here a stunning variety of birdlife may be seen and of considerable interest are the great fish traps.
2. High water, approximately July to November.
Stop at Preak Dom Bridge. Proceed by coach to Kampong Chhnang where we can see the rich tapestry of Cambodian rural life. This is a busy rural port town with bustling markets. We make a truly wonderful motor boat excursion into the lakeside wetlands that form the mouth of the river.
Here a stunning variety of birdlife may be seen and of considerable interest are the great fish traps. Return to the ship at lunch time. We make a late afternoon departure from Kompong Chhnang heading for Phnom Penh.
DAY 6, FRIDAY (B, L, D) PHNOM PENH The capital of Cambodia retains its French charm with several impressive wats, including Wat Ounalom, Wat Phnom and the newly-painted Wat Lang Ka. Pride of place goes to the Royal Palace and to the spectacular Silver Pagoda—one of the few places where artifacts embodying the brilliance and richness of Khmer culture were preserved by the Khmer Rouge. TheNationalMuseumalso has rewarding displays ofKhmer crafts. Enjoy an afternoon excursion into the suburbs for a very moving Killing Fields visit, including the Khmer Rouge’s grim Tuol Sleng (or S21 detention centre). Afterwards, spend some time at the Russian or Central markets. And, as Phnom Penh has a lively night life, you may choose to dine ashore or try one of its watering-holes; perhaps the Foreign Correspondents’ Club.
DAY 7, SATURDAY (B,L,D) Mekong River ~ Border Crossing Pandaw Indochina casts off for a day’s cruising in the main Mekong channel, an international shipping route. Enjoy a stop at the jungle village Prek Touch to visit fruit orchards before crossing the Vietnamese border.
DAY 8, SUNDAY (B, L, D) Chau Doc ~ Cu Lao Gien
Today you will travel by a local ferry from the main Mekong Channel at Tan Chau down through the canals and backwaters. Visit a Cham tribal village and a cat fish farm at Chau Doc, before taking a charming trishaw ride around this fascinating town of fine French-colonial buildings. We return to the ship for lunch and cast off for Sadec. Stopping on the way at Cu Lao Gien Island, we visit a Catholic monastery called "La Providence" built in 1875 by the French nuns of "Saint Paul de Chartres".
DAY 9, MONDAY (B, L, D) Sadec ~ (Vinh Long) ~ Cai Be Half day cruise excursion on board traditional sampan boats to Cai Be via Vinh Long, along small canals and back waters.
Sa Dec is a little “Venice” with numerous narrow canals and various kinds of traditional activities on the banks. You will disembark at the local market for a visit, then proceed to the splendid ancient house of Mr. Huyn Thuy Le, the “lover” of Marguerite Duras, famous French novelist and inspiration for the film L'Amant-The Lover.
Back on board your sampan, we will drift down the Tien River. On the way we visit a traditional brick and tile factory. Travelling from Vinh Long water to Dong Hoa Hiep islet on sampan we explore the rural life and the daily activities of the delta inhabitants. Reaching Cai Be, we will cruise through its colorful floating market which takes place daily in front of the catholic church.
After lunch on board, continue by Sampan deep into the country backwaters, passing traditional wood and bamboo bridges and suspended fishing nets. On the banks, you can see large rice fields, fruit markets, plantations and visit local houses to see how people in the Delta live.
DAY 10, TUESDAY (B) Saigon
Pandaw Indochina sets an early morning sail from Cai Bei to My Tho, where you'll disembark at approximately 8:30am. You're then transferred from My Tho Port to the Caravelle Hotel. The day is then at your leisure.
DAY 11, WEDNESDAY (B, L) SAIGON
After breakfast, enjoymorning sightseeingwith your local guide, visiting some of the ‘essential sights’ of this city, including the Reunification Palace, once known as the Presidential Palace. You’ll also see the picturesque colonial General Post Office, Ben Thanh Market, City Hall, Former US Embassy and Notre Dame Cathedral before enjoying lunch at a local restaurant. Return to your hotel this afternoon.
DAY 12, THURSDAY (B) SAIGON~SINGAPORE~AUSTRALIA
After breakfast, you’ll be transferred to Saigon airport for your flight home to Australia.
EXTENSIONS IN CAMBODIA/ VIETNAM/ LAOS If you wish to extend your stay in either Vietnam or Cambodia pre or post - there are a number of exciting extension options available in the brochure.
* Ports of call may vary based on itinerary and departure dates selected
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22-Jul-12
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5-Aug-12
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19-Aug-12
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Cabin Pricing
Ports
Siem Reap
Siem Reap has colonial and Chinese-style architecture in the Old French Quarter, and around the Old Market. In town, there are Apsara dance performances, craft shops, silk farms, rice-paddy countryside, fishing villages and a bird sanctuary near the Tonle Sap Lake.
Country: Cambodia Distance from Port to City: 0Kms Distance to Airport: 0Kms
Places of Interest: Angkor Wat, Cambodia Landmine Museum, Angkor National Museum
Tonle River
The Tonlé Sap i.e., large body of water (Cambodian meaning "Large Fresh Water River," but more commonly translated as "Great Lake") is a combined lake and river system of huge importance to Cambodia. It is the largest freshwater lake in South East Asia and is an ecological hot spot that was designated as a UNESCO biosphere in 1997.
Country: Cambodia Distance from Port to City: 0Kms Distance to Airport: 0Kms
Places of Interest:
Kampong Cham
Kampong Cham is the third largest city in Cambodia, but has yet to be heavily touristed like Phnom Penh or Siem Reap. It carries with it plenty of colonial French charm, and has a genuine "wild west" feel to it.
Country: Cambodia Distance from Port to City: 0Kms Distance to Airport: 0Kms
Places of Interest:
Chau Doc
Perched on the banks of the Bassac River, Chau Doc is a pleasant town near the Cambodian border with sizable Chinese, Cham and Khmer communities. Its cultural diversity – apparent in the mosques, temples, churches and nearby pilgrimage sites – makes it a fascinating place to explore even if you aren’t headed to Cambodia. Taking a boat trip to the Cham communities across the river is another highlight, though its addictive market and peaceful waterfront make fine backdrops to a few days of relaxing before heading out.
Country: Vietnam Distance from Port to City: 0Kms Distance to Airport: 0Kms
Places of Interest:
Cai Be
Cái Bè is a river-land mixed town in Vietnam. It is a district (huyện) of Tien Giang Province in the Mekong Delta region of Vietnam. Along the river are docks that handle passengers and goods, and also the floating market.
Country: Vietnam Distance from Port to City: 0Kms Distance to Airport: 0Kms
Places of Interest:
Saigon
The official name for Vietnam's largest city is Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC). However, Saigon is still popular and used in this region, especially by southern Vietnamese adn expat. With a myriad of different things to see and do in this dynamic developing city, visitors can spend a whole month exploring Saigon and nearby area, enjoying its people, culture, custom and food.
Country: Vietnam Distance from Port to City: 0Kms Distance to Airport: 0Kms Currency: Dong (VND)
Places of Interest: Reunification Palace (Dinh Thống Nhất), Notre-Dame Cathedral (Nhà thờ Đức Bà).
Cruiseco Charter
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Pandaw - Mekong Cruises Cabin Info
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Pandaw Cruises
Reviving the old Irrawaddy Flotilla Company in 1995, we were the first since the Second World War to offer pioneering cruises on Myanmar's spectacular Irrawaddy River, attempting to reach Bhamo, one thousand miles from the sea. In 1998 we pioneered the stunningly attractive Chindwin River. In 2001 were the first since colonial days to offer a complete cruise from Rangoon to Mandalay.
The Irrawaddy Flotilla Company was established by Scot’s merchants in 1865. By the 1920s the company ran over 650 vessels on the rivers of Burma. It had become the largest privately owned fleet of ships in the world. Mainly paddle steamers, the largest class of vessels were 350ft long and licensed for 4,000 passengers. In 1942 the fleet in its entirety was scuppered as an Act of Denial when the Japanese invaded. The Irrawaddy Flotilla was in 1995 revived by the Burma historian Paul Strachan.
First restoring an original Clyde-built steamer called the Pandaw, and then going on to build four brand new replicas, a unique concept and style of river cruising was created.
In 2002 we took our Pandaw concept to the Mekong River in Indochina where we now have two Pandaws plying between Saigon in Vietnam and Angkor Wat in Cambodia. Here the Pandaws broke the seemingly impenetrable river border between two very different countries. In high water our vessels accomplished the first cross navigation of the Tonle Sap, an inland sea previously un-navigated by anything other than local speed boats.
Each ship, hand finished in brass and teak by traditional craftsmen are in themselves objects of great beauty. The secret of our success is that on our ships, whilst luxury and comfort are discreetly present, it is the colonial character and friendly atmosphere that predominate. All our Pandaws have ultra shallow drafts and can travel to remote areas, which would be unreachable by other vessels, let alone overland.
Ship info
Pandaw - Mekong Cruises
There can be no tapestry of river life as fascinating and varied as the River Mekong. Indeed there can be no more striking a cultural contrast as that between the bustling Vietnam delta and the tranquility of Cambodia. We pass from the vibrant French colonial port of Saigon, now called Ho Chi Minh City, through the vast Delta so rich in human life and endeavor, to travel along the main channel into the rich countryside of Cambodia.
On board a Pandaw Ship
Staterooms
All categories of Pandaw stateroom are teak or other precious hardwood paneled with brass marine fittings. All have own air conditioning, mini-safe, luggage storage, wardrobe, writing desk and amenities include hair drier, kimono, slippers. All upper and main deck cabins have own deck space with own rattan chairs and table outside the room.
Amenities
On board laundry, bakery, fully equipped galley and refrigeration units; air conditioning for all inside areas, saloon bar, movie theatre / lecture room
Equipment
Cell phones, Sat phones VHF and SSB radio, internal phone system, PA system and tannoy system for navigation purposes.
Safety
Smoke detectors in all cabins and public places, emergency lighting and generator, fire pump, hydrants and hoses, fire extinguishers, life jackets for all on board and life rafts. Water
Treatment plants for desalination, de-sedimentation and purification using UV and osmosis.
Sewage: Microbiotic treatment plants.
Insurance
Protection & Indemnity policies with over USD 45 million coverage per vessel.
Management
European and Asian experts employed directly by Pandaw Cruises.
Please note that on board accounts on any Pandaw cruise can only be settled by cash, visa or mastercard. Travellers cheques and AMEX cannot be used. Onboard currency is USD.
